US20240210285A1 - Fluid monitoring device and methods of use thereof - Google Patents
Fluid monitoring device and methods of use thereof Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20240210285A1 US20240210285A1 US18/392,506 US202318392506A US2024210285A1 US 20240210285 A1 US20240210285 A1 US 20240210285A1 US 202318392506 A US202318392506 A US 202318392506A US 2024210285 A1 US2024210285 A1 US 2024210285A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- fluid
- channel
- tesla valve
- monitoring device
- outlet
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
Links
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 139
- 238000012806 monitoring device Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 64
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 51
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 71
- 241000700605 Viruses Species 0.000 claims abstract description 50
- 238000005086 pumping Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 26
- 230000002441 reversible effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 20
- 239000000443 aerosol Substances 0.000 claims description 24
- 238000002965 ELISA Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- WYTGDNHDOZPMIW-RCBQFDQVSA-N alstonine Natural products C1=CC2=C3C=CC=CC3=NC2=C2N1C[C@H]1[C@H](C)OC=C(C(=O)OC)[C@H]1C2 WYTGDNHDOZPMIW-RCBQFDQVSA-N 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000003134 recirculating effect Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 241000894006 Bacteria Species 0.000 claims description 3
- 241000224421 Heterolobosea Species 0.000 claims description 3
- 241000224016 Plasmodium Species 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000001069 Raman spectroscopy Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000005299 abrasion Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 210000003001 amoeba Anatomy 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000001506 fluorescence spectroscopy Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000002538 fungal effect Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 91
- 239000002041 carbon nanotube Substances 0.000 description 84
- 229910021393 carbon nanotube Inorganic materials 0.000 description 72
- 238000003752 polymerase chain reaction Methods 0.000 description 24
- 241000711450 Infectious bronchitis virus Species 0.000 description 23
- 238000002474 experimental method Methods 0.000 description 20
- 239000000523 sample Substances 0.000 description 18
- 238000003491 array Methods 0.000 description 17
- 238000002955 isolation Methods 0.000 description 16
- 241000287828 Gallus gallus Species 0.000 description 14
- 235000013330 chicken meat Nutrition 0.000 description 14
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 13
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 12
- 238000004458 analytical method Methods 0.000 description 10
- 229960005486 vaccine Drugs 0.000 description 10
- 238000005070 sampling Methods 0.000 description 8
- 238000010222 PCR analysis Methods 0.000 description 7
- 239000004205 dimethyl polysiloxane Substances 0.000 description 7
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 7
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 7
- 239000002105 nanoparticle Substances 0.000 description 7
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 description 7
- 229920000435 poly(dimethylsiloxane) Polymers 0.000 description 7
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 description 7
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 description 6
- 108010010803 Gelatin Proteins 0.000 description 5
- 239000008273 gelatin Substances 0.000 description 5
- 229920000159 gelatin Polymers 0.000 description 5
- 235000019322 gelatine Nutrition 0.000 description 5
- 235000011852 gelatine desserts Nutrition 0.000 description 5
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 5
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 description 5
- 244000052769 pathogen Species 0.000 description 5
- 230000001717 pathogenic effect Effects 0.000 description 5
- 108090000623 proteins and genes Proteins 0.000 description 5
- 102000004169 proteins and genes Human genes 0.000 description 5
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000003054 catalyst Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000002071 nanotube Substances 0.000 description 4
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 description 4
- 230000003068 static effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 241001678559 COVID-19 virus Species 0.000 description 3
- 206010011224 Cough Diseases 0.000 description 3
- PEDCQBHIVMGVHV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Glycerine Chemical compound OCC(O)CO PEDCQBHIVMGVHV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 238000000995 aerosol-assisted chemical vapour deposition Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000002902 bimodal effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 210000004027 cell Anatomy 0.000 description 3
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000009089 cytolysis Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 3
- 208000015181 infectious disease Diseases 0.000 description 3
- 150000002739 metals Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000007481 next generation sequencing Methods 0.000 description 3
- -1 polydimethylsiloxane Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 238000004626 scanning electron microscopy Methods 0.000 description 3
- VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N silicon dioxide Inorganic materials O=[Si]=O VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 239000000243 solution Substances 0.000 description 3
- 210000002845 virion Anatomy 0.000 description 3
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 241000711573 Coronaviridae Species 0.000 description 2
- LFQSCWFLJHTTHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ethanol Chemical compound CCO LFQSCWFLJHTTHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000002123 RNA extraction Methods 0.000 description 2
- XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicon Chemical compound [Si] XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- PPBRXRYQALVLMV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Styrene Chemical compound C=CC1=CC=CC=C1 PPBRXRYQALVLMV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000009825 accumulation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229910052799 carbon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 230000000295 complement effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000002073 fluorescence micrograph Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000036541 health Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000014759 maintenance of location Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000006199 nebulizer Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000013641 positive control Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000011160 research Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000001878 scanning electron micrograph Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000006748 scratching Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000002393 scratching effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000003786 synthesis reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000006163 transport media Substances 0.000 description 2
- 241000701161 unidentified adenovirus Species 0.000 description 2
- 230000003612 virological effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 210000000707 wrist Anatomy 0.000 description 2
- DGXAGETVRDOQFP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 2,6-dihydroxybenzaldehyde Chemical compound OC1=CC=CC(O)=C1C=O DGXAGETVRDOQFP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- YPFNIPKMNMDDDB-UHFFFAOYSA-K 2-[2-[bis(carboxylatomethyl)amino]ethyl-(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]acetate;iron(3+) Chemical compound [Fe+3].OCCN(CC([O-])=O)CCN(CC([O-])=O)CC([O-])=O YPFNIPKMNMDDDB-UHFFFAOYSA-K 0.000 description 1
- 229920001817 Agar Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 241001031135 Aristea ecklonii Species 0.000 description 1
- ZOXJGFHDIHLPTG-UHFFFAOYSA-N Boron Chemical compound [B] ZOXJGFHDIHLPTG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 241000709661 Enterovirus Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000004593 Epoxy Substances 0.000 description 1
- 241001465754 Metazoa Species 0.000 description 1
- PXHVJJICTQNCMI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Nickel Chemical compound [Ni] PXHVJJICTQNCMI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000012408 PCR amplification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000004793 Polystyrene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 241001673669 Porcine circovirus 2 Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000000654 additive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000996 additive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004964 aerogel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000008272 agar Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000010419 agar Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000003570 air Substances 0.000 description 1
- AZDRQVAHHNSJOQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N alumane Chemical compound [AlH3] AZDRQVAHHNSJOQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 210000004369 blood Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 239000008280 blood Substances 0.000 description 1
- 206010006451 bronchitis Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 238000005266 casting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004113 cell culture Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000001913 cellulose Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920002678 cellulose Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 235000010980 cellulose Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000007385 chemical modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 description 1
- GUTLYIVDDKVIGB-UHFFFAOYSA-N cobalt atom Chemical compound [Co] GUTLYIVDDKVIGB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000002860 competitive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012141 concentrate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012258 culturing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011161 development Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000012470 diluted sample Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010790 dilution Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000012895 dilution Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000428 dust Substances 0.000 description 1
- 125000003700 epoxy group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 238000011156 evaluation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001704 evaporation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008020 evaporation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001914 filtration Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000010419 fine particle Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000006260 foam Substances 0.000 description 1
- SLGWESQGEUXWJQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N formaldehyde;phenol Chemical compound O=C.OC1=CC=CC=C1 SLGWESQGEUXWJQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- PCHJSUWPFVWCPO-UHFFFAOYSA-N gold Chemical compound [Au] PCHJSUWPFVWCPO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000010931 gold Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052737 gold Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 210000004247 hand Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 238000011065 in-situ storage Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002458 infectious effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011081 inoculation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003993 interaction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009830 intercalation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002687 intercalation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010329 laser etching Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000670 limiting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001459 lithography Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910044991 metal oxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 150000004706 metal oxides Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000001000 micrograph Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003595 mist Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000116 mitigating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000003097 mucus Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 239000002070 nanowire Substances 0.000 description 1
- QJGQUHMNIGDVPM-UHFFFAOYSA-N nitrogen(.) Chemical compound [N] QJGQUHMNIGDVPM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000002773 nucleotide Substances 0.000 description 1
- 125000003729 nucleotide group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 230000036961 partial effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000001814 pectin Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001277 pectin Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 235000010987 pectin Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 229920001568 phenolic resin Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000058 polyacrylate Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000647 polyepoxide Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920002223 polystyrene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920002635 polyurethane Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004814 polyurethane Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011148 porous material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000003825 pressing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000010453 quartz Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000003296 saliva Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 238000007790 scraping Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007493 shaping process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052710 silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010703 silicon Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000377 silicon dioxide Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007921 spray Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000006467 substitution reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000725 suspension Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N1/00—Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
- G01N1/02—Devices for withdrawing samples
- G01N1/22—Devices for withdrawing samples in the gaseous state
- G01N1/24—Suction devices
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N1/00—Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
- G01N1/02—Devices for withdrawing samples
- G01N1/22—Devices for withdrawing samples in the gaseous state
- G01N2001/2285—Details of probe structures
Definitions
- Embodiments relate to a fluid monitoring device and methods of use thereof. More particularly, embodiments relate to a fluid monitoring device that may be used to capture viruses or other suitable sized particles and methods of use thereof.
- Virus surveillance particularly the detection of viral particles in fluids
- Virus detection in fluids, particularly aerosols has been attempted in the past under a variety of experimental conditions ranging from the laboratory, hospital wards, mass transportation, and airplanes; however, large-scale detection is complicated.
- Current pathogen identification technologies e.g., fluid monitoring devices
- fluid monitoring devices are limited by poor viral capture efficiency, lack of portability, cost, and slow downstream analysis methods. Accordingly, there is a clear need for a faster, simpler, and cheaper fluid monitoring device that can be widely accessible to the public for use in communal spaces such as offices, mass transport, restaurants, or even at home.
- Embodiments relate to a fluid monitoring device that may be used to capture viruses or other suitable sized particles.
- the fluid monitoring device can comprise a base, cover, Tesla valve, and means for pumping a fluid.
- the base can have a channel wherein the channel has two end points.
- the cover can have an inlet and an outlet.
- the cover can be mounted on the base wherein the inlet is adjacent to the first end point and the outlet is adjacent to the second end point.
- the Tesla valve can be positioned within the channel.
- the Tesla valve can have a forward flow direction and a reverse flow direction.
- the means for pumping a fluid is for directing a fluid from the inlet to the outlet and can be configured to the cover.
- At least a portion of the fluid monitoring device can be optically transparent whereby at least a portion of the Tesla valve is visible within the fluid monitoring device.
- the fluid can be air containing droplets and aerosols.
- the Tesla valve can be positioned within the channel such that the reverse flow direction is oriented from the inlet to the outlet.
- the Tesla valve can be positioned within the channel such that the forward flow direction is oriented from the inlet to the outlet.
- the Tesla valve can be positioned within the channel to allow at least a portion of the fluid to flow through and around the Tesla valve.
- At least a portion of the Tesla valve can be porous.
- the length of the Tesla valve can be at least a portion of the length of the channel.
- the fluid monitoring device can further comprise a second Tesla valve positioned within the channel.
- the channel can have a path shape, wherein the path shape can be straight, zig-zag, or serpentine.
- the means for pumping a fluid can be a vacuum pump, the vacuum pump being configured to the outlet of the cover.
- the device can be contained in a portable housing.
- An exemplary embodiment relates to a method of capturing particles from a fluid sample using a fluid monitoring device.
- An embodiment of a fluid monitoring device can comprise a base, cover, Tesla valve, and means for pumping a fluid.
- the base can have a channel wherein the channel has two end points.
- the cover can have an inlet and an outlet.
- the cover can be mounted on the base wherein the inlet is adjacent to the first end point and the outlet is adjacent to the second end point.
- the Tesla valve can be positioned within the channel.
- the Tesla valve can have a forward flow direction and a reverse flow direction.
- the means for pumping a fluid is for directing a fluid from the inlet to the outlet and can be configured to the cover.
- the method can involve actuating the means for pumping a fluid.
- the method can involve allowing a fluid to enter the inlet of the device and pass through the channel, the fluid containing particles.
- the method can involve capturing the particles within the Tesla valve.
- the method can involve
- the fluid can be air containing droplets and aerosols carrying the particles.
- the particles can be selected from the group consisting of bacteria, virus, fungal spores, pollen, microalgae, plasmodium , and amoebas.
- means for pumping a fluid can be a vacuum pump, the vacuum pump being configured to the outlet of the cover and actuating the vacuum pump pulls the fluid into the inlet of the device, through the channel and the Tesla valve, and out the outlet of the device.
- the method can further comprise analyzing the captured particles.
- analyzing the captured particles can comprise a technique selected from the group consisting of Raman spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and plasmonics.
- the method can further comprise releasing the captured particles and analyzing the captured particles.
- releasing the captured particles can comprises mechanical abrasion of the Tesla valve and analyzing the particles can comprise a technique selected from the group consisting of ELISA, PCR, NGS, and culture.
- the method can involve recirculating the fluid before to exiting the outlet of the device to increase a number of particles captures within the Tesla valve or a likelihood of capturing the particles within the Tesla valve.
- FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of an embodiment of a fluid monitoring device.
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a fluid monitoring device.
- FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a fluid monitoring device. The axis 3 ⁇ of the cross-sectional view is depicted in FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a fluid monitoring device. The axis 3 ⁇ of the cross-sectional view is depicted in FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a fluid monitoring device. The axis 3 ⁇ of the cross-sectional view is depicted in FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 6 is a scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrograph of a carbon nanotube array fin tip of a Tesla valve showing fluorescent nanoparticles captured from a liquid sample.
- SEM scanning electron microscope
- FIG. 7 A is a perspective view of an embodiment of a housing.
- FIG. 7 B is a perspective view of an embodiment of a housing placed in a user's hand.
- FIG. 8 A is a perspective view of an embodiment of a housing and an embodiment of a fluid monitoring device.
- FIG. 8 B is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of a fluid monitoring device configured to an embodiment of a housing. A zoomed-in profile of an embodiment of a Tesla valve is shown on the right.
- FIG. 9 A is a perspective view of an embodiment of a housing and an embodiment of an optical analyzer.
- FIG. 9 B is a perspective view of an embodiment of a housing and an embodiment of a sample extraction unit.
- FIG. 10 Airborne particle generator using a nebulizer to generate fine particles ( ⁇ 1 ⁇ m) connected in series with a sprayer that generates larger droplets (>1 ⁇ m), the combined particle emission simulates a realistic cough or human sneeze showing a bimodal particle size distribution.
- FIG. 11 Schott al. 11 —Schematic showing the virus isolation chamber, the bioaerosol generator, and the air samplers.
- FIG. 12 A Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV) infected chicken inside an isolation room.
- IBV Infectious Bronchitis Virus
- FIG. 12 B Bioaerosol monitors placed near the air exhaust of the isolation room (BSL-2 facility).
- FIG. 13 A The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Bioaerosol Cyclone 251 (NIOSH BC-251) sampler.
- FIG. 13 B View of inserted carbon nanotube arrays in the stage 2 vial of the NIOSH BC-251 air sampler.
- FIG. 13 C View of inserted carbon nanotube arrays in the stage 2 vial of the NIOSH BC-251 air sampler.
- FIG. 13 D An embodiment of a microfluidic carbon nanotube Tesla valve.
- FIG. 14 A —15 ml vial form stage 1 of the NIOSH BC-251 air samples showing shed dust from the chickens.
- FIG. 14 B 2 ml vial from stage 2 of the NIOSH BC-251 air sampler, the red arrow points at a diagonal trace of fine powder collected from the chickens.
- FIG. 14 C Stage 2 vial containing inserted carbon nanotube arrays used to evaluate the capture ability of the CNTs.
- FIG. 15 The CNT array on a petri dish showing the suspended CNTs scratched using a sterile needle, this suspension was pipetted and diluted in 250 ⁇ L universal transport media (UTM) and vortexed before PCR.
- UDM universal transport media
- FIG. 16 A —Carbon nanotube array in Herringbone arrangement.
- FIG. 16 B Carbon nanotube array in Tesla valve arrangement.
- FIG. 16 C Tesla valve geometry where the air can follow two parallel channels.
- FIG. 17 A Fluorescence microscopy images of nanoparticles captured by the carbon nanotube Tesla Valve.
- FIGS. 17 A and 17 B are the same area and the carbon nanotubes are of comparable length around 60 ⁇ m.
- FIG. 17 B Fluorescence microscopy images of nanoparticles captured by the Herringbone carbon nanotube array.
- FIGS. 17 A and 17 B are the same area and the carbon nanotubes are of comparable length around 60 ⁇ m.
- FIG. 18 A Photograph of a carbon nanotube Tesla valve after IBV spiked aerosol capture, white flow lines and noticeable particles get trapped in the Tesla Valve region (inset).
- FIG. 18 B After removing the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) cap the device got a few nanometer gold coating to prevent charge accumulation during electron irradiation in the SEM microscope, the evidence of aerosol captured virus material is highlighted in red.
- PDMS polydimethylsiloxane
- FIG. 19 Semilog plot of the PCR Ct threshold cycle of detection versus the sampled air volume.
- the red stars represent experiments with live virus shed by chickens in an isolation room while the blue stars are from controlled experiments with nebulized inactivated IBV virus in a static air chamber.
- PCR results can classified in three regions Ct below 35 represents a positive PCR detection (green), positive suspicious between 35 and 40 (gray) and No detection (red) for Ct larger than 40.
- the plot also indicates the ideal corner with low Ct and small sampled air volume.
- FIG. 20 SEM micrograph of a CNT array fin tip of a Tesla valve showing fluorescent nanoparticles captured from an aerosol sample.
- FIG. 21 is a unit cell of a Tesla valve.
- Win is the width of the Tesla valve channel at the entrance;
- Wout is the width of the Tesla valve channel at the output;
- L a , L b , and L c define the shape of the tesla valve; and
- a is the angle of the fin (0 and 90°).
- FIG. 22 shows the forward and reverse direction of flow in a unit cell of a Tesla valve.
- H W is the height of the walls, and H F is the height of the fin. In some embodiments, H W is the same or approximately the same as H F .
- FIG. 23 shows SEM micrographs of CNT tesla valve used to enrich SARS-COV-2 in from a 1:1 ⁇ 10 6 dilution.
- frame (c) It is possible to notice corpuscles that resemble trapped virus material. PCR analysis of this material confirms the capture of SARS-COV-2 in the nanotube arrays, while the SEM shows the preferential sites where the virus is retained at the tips of the tesla valve fins, in an analogous way as that observed in the air monitoring experiments.
- the fluid monitoring device 100 can comprise a base 102 , cover 108 , Tesla valve 114 , and means for pumping a fluid 124 .
- a base 102 can have a channel 104 wherein the channel 104 can have two end points 106 .
- a cover 108 can have an inlet 110 and outlet 112 .
- a cover 108 can be mounted on a base 102 .
- a first end point 106 of a channel 104 can be adjacent to an inlet 110
- a second end point 106 can be adjacent to an outlet 112 . It is contemplated that an assembled fluid monitoring device 100 creates a closed channel 104 with two openings at an inlet 110 and outlet 112 . As shown in FIG.
- An assembled fluid monitoring device 100 can be any shape (e.g., circular, triangular, rectangular, etc.).
- a cover 108 can be removable.
- a base 102 and cover 108 of a fluid monitoring device 100 can be made of any suitable material (e.g., plastics, metals, glass, polymers, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), quartz etc.).
- At least a portion of the base 102 and/or cover 108 is optically transparent such that at least a portion of a Tesla valve 114 within a device 100 is visible for optical analysis.
- a Tesla valve 114 can be positioned within a channel 104 . As shown in FIG. 22 , a Tesla valve 114 can have a forward flow direction and a reverse flow direction.
- the means for pumping a fluid 124 can be for directing a fluid from the inlet 110 to the outlet 112 and can be configured to the cover 108 .
- a fluid monitoring device 100 can be a cartridge and/or microfluidic device. A fluid monitoring device 100 can also be sterile.
- a fluid monitoring device 100 can have any number of channels 104 .
- one end point 106 of each channel 104 can merge into a singular channel 104 where the end point 106 of the single channel 104 aligns with an inlet 110 or outlet 112 .
- a channel 104 might be branched at one end or both. It is contemplated that, in such embodiments, a cover 108 can have a plurality of inlets 110 and/or outlets 112 which align with the various end points 106 of the channel 104 .
- a channel 104 might be Y-shaped where the cover 108 has two inlets 110 and a single outlet 112 .
- the two inlets 110 can be aligned with the branched end points 106 (e.g., at the top of the “Y”) and the outlet 112 can be aligned with the remaining end point 106 .
- the path of a channel 104 can have any shape (e.g., straight, zig-zag, or serpentine, etc.).
- channel 104 can have any length L 1 , depth D 1 , and width W 1 .
- the length L 1 , depth D 1 , and width W 1 can be on the order of micrometers to meters.
- the depth D 1 and/or width W 1 of a channel 104 can be about constant. Alternatively, the depth D 1 and/or width W 1 of a channel 104 can vary. As shown in FIG. 3 , the cross-sectional shape of a channel 104 can be rectangular. In some embodiments, a channel 104 can have any cross-sectional shape (e.g., square, circular, triangular etc.).
- a fluid monitoring device 100 can have any suitable means for pumping a fluid 124 from the inlet 110 to the outlet 112 (e.g., vacuum, syringe, squeeze bulb, etc.).
- a means 124 can be configured to the inlet 110 or outlet 112 of the cover 108 .
- a fluid monitoring device 100 can be configured to a vacuum pump 124 .
- a vacuum pump 124 can be connected to an outlet 112 of the cover 108 such that the vacuum pump 124 pulls fluid into the device 100 , through a channel 104 and a Tesla valve 114 , and out the outlet 112 .
- a vacuum pump 124 can be connected to an outlet 110 of a housing 128 and achieve the same effect.
- the vacuum pump 124 can be battery-operated or powered by an AC/DC adaptor.
- the vacuum pump 124 can be similar to those found in the art.
- a Tesla valve 114 can be similar to conventional Tesla valves 114 found in the art.
- An exemplary unit cell of a Tesla valve 114 is shown in FIG. 21 .
- the angle ⁇ and size of a fin within a Tesla valve 114 influences the forward and reverse flow directions. For example, depending on the angle, the cross section changes and can generate more turbulence at higher angle.
- a Tesla valve 114 can allow the fluid to flow in one direction (e.g., forward flow direction) while simultaneously opposing the flow in the opposite direction (e.g., reverse flow direction).
- a Tesla valve 114 can be positioned within a channel 104 such that the reverse flow direction is oriented from the inlet 110 to the outlet 112 .
- the means for pumping a fluid 124 overpowers the innate forward flow direction and directs the fluid through the Tesla valve 114 in the reverse flow direction.
- a Tesla valve 114 can be positioned within a channel 104 such that the forward flow direction is oriented from the inlet 110 to the outlet 112 . It contemplated that the orientation of a Tesla valve 114 within a channel 104 can influence the degree of particle 116 retention (e.g., enrichment).
- a device 100 where the reverse flow direction is oriented from the inlet 110 to the outlet 112 particle 116 enrichment increases, particularly at fin tips 140 and sharp corners of a Tesla valve 114 .
- a Tesla valve 114 can be positioned within a channel 104 to allow at least a portion of a fluid to flow through the Tesla valve 114 in one direction from the inlet 110 to the outlet 112 . As shown in FIG. 4 , a Tesla valve 114 can be positioned within a channel 104 such that at least a portion of the fluid entering the device 100 passes through and around the Tesla valve 114 to exit the device 100 . In some embodiments, the entire fluid entering the device 100 passes through the Tesla valve 114 to exit the device 100 .
- a Tesla valve 114 can work under a low flow rate of fluid (e.g., 0.16-0.3 L/m).
- a fluid monitoring device 100 can have a plurality of Tesla valves 114 .
- each channel 104 can have at least one Tesla valve 114 .
- a single channel 104 can have a plurality of Tesla valves 114 .
- a plurality of Tesla valves 114 can be positioned lengthwise along one channel 104 .
- a plurality of Tesla valves 114 can positioned adjacent and crosswise within one channel 104 .
- a Tesla valve 114 can have any length L 2 . The length L 2 can be on the order of micrometers to meters.
- the length L 2 of a Tesla valve 114 can be at least a portion of the length L 1 of a channel 104 . In some embodiments, the length L 2 of a Tesla valve 114 is the same as the length L 1 of a channel 104 .
- the shape of a Tesla valve 114 can complement the path shape of a channel 104 (e.g., straight, zig-zag, or serpentine, etc.).
- a Tesla valve 114 can be removable.
- a Tesla valve 114 can have any depth D 2 and/or outer width W 2 .
- the depth D 2 and/or outer width W 2 can be on the order of micrometers to meters. In some embodiments, the depth D 2 and/or outer width W 2 of a Tesla valve 114 can be about constant. Alternatively, the depth D 2 and/or outer width W 2 of a Tesla valve 114 can vary. As shown in FIG. 3 , the depth D 2 and/or outer width W 2 of a Tesla valve 114 can complement the depth D 1 and/or width W 1 of a channel 104 such that the Tesla valve 114 fits tightly within the channel 104 . As shown in FIG. 3 , a Tesla valve 114 can have any inner width W 3 .
- the inner width W 3 can be on the order of micrometers to meters. In some embodiments, the inner width W 3 of a Tesla valve 114 can vary. It is contemplated that the inner width W 3 of a Tesla valve 114 can be adjusted based on the fluid passing through the Tesla valve 114 .
- the fluid can be air containing droplets and aerosols. Approximately, droplets are greater than 100 ⁇ m, and aerosols are less than 100 ⁇ m. A larger inner width W 3 can capture larger droplets from air and vice versa.
- a Tesla valve 114 can be made from any material (e.g., nanotubes, aerogels, nanowires, sponges, foams, etc.).
- the material of the Tesla valve 114 can be composed of any substance (e.g., silica, carbon, carbon nanotubes, cellulose, gelatin, agar, pectin, resorcinol-formaldehyde, phenol-formaldehyde, polyacrylates, polystyrenes, polyurethanes, epoxies, metal oxides, etc.).
- the materials can be shaped into the Tesla valve 114 using established methods in the art, for example casting a particular substance into a mold. As shown in FIGS.
- At least a portion of a Tesla valve 114 can be porous 122 .
- at least a portion of a Tesla valve 114 can have a porosity of 1-99%.
- at least a portion of a Tesla valve 114 can have a porosity of about 90%. It can be appreciated that the porosity can be adjusted to fit the diameter of a particle 116 being captured (e.g., larger percent porosity for larger particles 116 ).
- the diameter of the particles 116 can be on the order of nanometers to millimeters.
- a Tesla valve 114 can be made from carbon nanotubes 118 .
- a carbon nanotube-based Tesla valve 114 can be prepared using bottom-up synthesis.
- a substrate 120 is positioned within a channel 104 of the base 102 .
- the substrate 120 can be positioned on the underside of the cover 108 wherein the substrate 120 would align with at least a portion of a channel 104 when the fluid monitoring device 100 is assembled.
- a substrate 120 can be any type (e.g., silicon, glass, metals, polymers, etc.).
- a substrate can be foldable and flexible.
- a metal catalyst can be prepared on a substrate 120 .
- a metal catalyst can be any type (e.g., iron-, nickel-, cobalt-, etc.).
- Carbon nanotubes 118 can be grown vertically from a metal catalyst through aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition. As shown in FIG. 3 - 5 , in some embodiments, at least a portion of the carbon nanotubes 118 are vertically aligned.
- the metal catalyst can be patterned using lithography. Alternatively, laser etching of can be used to pattern the carbon nanotube 118 structure.
- the carbon nanotube-based Tesla valve 114 is synthesized separately from the cover 108 or base 102 and configured to the channel 104 after synthesis.
- the Tesla vale 114 can be formed via additive or subtractive shaping of carbon forest or sponges. It can be appreciated that other methods known in the art can be used to synthesize carbon nanotubes 118 .
- the length of time for aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition can vary and thus dictate the height of the carbon nanotubes 118 .
- Increasing the time of aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition can generally increase the height of the carbon nanotubes 118 synthesized.
- the height of the carbon nanotubes 118 can dictate the depth D 2 of the Tesla valve 114 .
- the height of the carbon nanotubes 118 can be at least a portion of the depth D 1 of the channel 104 .
- the height of the carbon nanotubes 118 can be approximately the same as or greater than the depth D 1 of the channel 104 .
- At least a portion of the ends of the carbon nanotubes 118 can make contact with the cover 108 or base 102 . It is contemplated that contact of the base 102 or cover 108 with the ends of the carbon nanotubes 118 creates at least a partial seal such that at least a portion of a fluid flowing through a channel 104 is directed through the Tesla valve 114 . It can be appreciated that some embodiments of the fluid monitoring device 100 may comprise a plurality of carbon nanotubes 118 types with varying heights.
- the carbon nanotubes 118 can be single-walled or multi-walled. It can be appreciated that some embodiments of the fluid monitoring device 100 may comprise a plurality of carbon nanotube types being single-walled and multi-walled.
- the carbon nanotubes 118 can have any molecular structure (e.g., chirality) and include, but are not limited to, zigzag, armchair, and chiral.
- the carbon nanotubes 118 can also be chemically modified with atoms or molecules (e.g., doped). The chemical modifications can be any type and include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) endohedral doping; (2) exohedral doping or intercalation; and (3) inplane doping or substitution.
- the carbon nanotubes 118 can be nitrogen-, boron-, silicon-, aluminum-, phosphorous-, and lithium-doped. Any suitable method known in the art can be used to dope the carbon nanotubes 118 . It is contemplated that the doping type can be selected such that the captured particle 116 is preserved for future analysis. It can be appreciated that some embodiments of the fluid monitoring device 100 may comprise a plurality of carbon nanotubes 118 types with varying doping modifications and chirality.
- the fluid monitoring device 100 can be configured to a housing 128 .
- a housing 128 can have an inlet 130 and outlet 132 .
- the inlet 130 and outlet 132 of the housing 128 are adjacent to the inlet 110 an outlet 112 of the cover 108 , respectively.
- a housing 128 can have any number of inlets 130 and outlets 132 .
- the number of inlets 130 and outlets 132 of a housing 128 can correspond to the number of inlets 110 and outlets 112 of a cover 108 .
- a housing 128 can be made of any material (e.g., plastics, metals, glass, polymers, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), etc.).
- a filter 126 can be positioned adjacent to the inlet 110 of a housing 128 and/or the inlet 110 of a cover 108 such that at least a portion of a fluid can pass through the filter(s) 126 to enter the channel 104 .
- the porosity of the filter(s) 126 can be adjusted for the diameter of the particle 116 to be captured within the filter(s) 126 .
- a fluid monitoring device 100 configured to a housing 128 can be removable and replaceable.
- an assembled housing 128 and fluid monitoring device 100 can be light-weight and portable (e.g., ⁇ 200 g).
- a housing 128 can have an ergonomic shape to allow the housing 128 to fit comfortably within a user's hand or hands.
- a housing 128 can be wearable for ease of portability.
- a housing 128 can be fastened to a shirt, bag, belt, pants, wrist, etc. using any suitable method (e.g., hook and loop fasteners, straps, buttons, magnets, adhesives, wrist bands, etc.).
- An exemplary embodiment relates to a method of capturing particles 116 from a fluid sample using an embodiment of a fluid monitoring device 100 .
- the embodiment of the fluid monitoring device 100 can comprise a base 102 , cover 108 , Tesla valve 114 , and means for pumping a fluid 124 .
- the base 102 can have a channel 104 wherein the channel 104 has two end points 106 .
- the cover 108 can have an inlet 110 and an outlet 112 .
- the cover 108 can be mounted on the base 102 wherein the inlet 110 is adjacent to the first end point 106 and the outlet 112 is adjacent to the second end point 106 .
- the Tesla valve 114 can be positioned within the channel 104 .
- the Tesla valve 114 can have a forward flow direction and a reverse flow direction.
- the means for pumping a fluid 124 is for directing a fluid from the inlet 110 to the outlet 112 and can be configured to the cover 108 .
- the method can involve actuating the means for pumping a fluid 124 .
- Actuating the means for pumping a fluid 124 can involve, but is not limited to, turning on a vacuum pump, pulling or pushing a syringe, or applying pressure to a squeeze bulb.
- the means for pumping a fluid 124 is a vacuum pump 124 , the vacuum pump 124 being configured to the outlet 112 of the cover 108 and actuating the vacuum pump 124 pulls the fluid into the inlet 110 of the device 100 , through the channel 104 and the Tesla valve 114 , and out the outlet 112 of the device 100 .
- the method can involve allowing the fluid to enter the inlet 110 of the device 100 and pass through a channel 104 .
- the fluid can contain particles 116 .
- the fluid can be a Newtonian (e.g., water, air, glycerol, etc.) or non-Newtonian fluid (e.g., blood, saliva, mucus, etc.).
- the fluid is air containing droplets and aerosols carrying the particles 116 .
- the particles 116 from the fluid can be any type (e.g., bacteria, virus, fungal spores, pollen, microalgae, plasmodium, amoebas etc.).
- the method can involve capturing the particles 116 within a Tesla valve 114 .
- the capturing mechanism can involve the particles 116 becoming trapped within the porous material 122 of a Tesla valve 114 .
- the method can involve allowing the fluid to exit the outlet 112 of the device 100 .
- the device 100 can also be configured to a portable housing 128 .
- the method can also involve analyzing the captured particles 116 .
- the fluid monitoring device 100 can work under a low flow rate of fluid. It is contemplated that the device 100 can capture a sufficient concentration of particles 116 required for analysis (e.g., particle enrichment). Analyzing the captured particles 116 can involve any optical technique known in the art (e.g., Raman spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, plasmonics, etc.). In some embodiments, the fluid monitoring device 100 can be configured to an optical analyzer 136 corresponding to the selected analysis technique for particle 116 assessment. As shown in FIG.
- a housing 128 containing the device 100 can also be configured to an optical analyzer 136 .
- a housing 128 can have a transparent portion 134 or aperture 134 for optical analysis of the particles 116 captured by a device 100 , the device 100 being contained within the housing 128 .
- the method can also involve releasing and analyzing the captured particles 116 .
- the particles 116 can be released from the Tesla valve 114 via mechanical abrasion (e.g., cutting, scraping, scratching, etc.).
- the particles 116 can be released from the Tesla valve 114 via disruption of the particle 116 (e.g, lysis, etc.).
- the fluid monitoring device 100 can be configured to a sample extraction unit 138 used to retrieve the particles 116 from the device 100 .
- a housing 128 containing the device 100 can be configured to the sample extraction unit 138 .
- a housing 128 can have an aperture 134 for extraction of the particles 116 captured by a device 100 , the device 100 being contained within the housing 128 .
- Analysis of the captured particles 116 can involve any technique known in the art (e.g., enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); polymerase chain reaction (PCR); next-generation sequencing (NGS), and culturing (e.g., inoculation of particles into embryonated egg or cell culture, etc.).
- ELISA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
- PCR polymerase chain reaction
- NGS next-generation sequencing
- culturing e.g., inoculation of particles into embryonated egg or cell culture, etc.
- Virolock Technologies LLC developed and tested a bio-aerosol monitoring device.
- the devices included a large flow inertia-based collector where the impactor surface was enhanced by nanostructured carbon nanotube arrays. The best performance was achieved by using a micrometric carbon nanotube Tesla valve encapsulated in a microfluidic channel. This device requires low air flow and exhibited the highest particle/virus capture efficiency.
- Virus detection in bio-aerosols has been attempted in the past under a variety of experimental conditions ranging from laboratory-controlled conditions to hospital wards, mass transportation and airplanes. Airborne virus detection has proven complicated. Table 1 shows the experimental conditions used to capture airborne viruses in different settings from well controlled laboratory conditions to ICU units with symptomatic patients. Table 1 was used in the statement of work of this project to display the efforts made towards aerosol virus capture, and for this report we have expanded it to include our experimental data.
- NIOS SKC 840 3.5 Hospital Not CoV enterovirus BC-251 Aircheck Detected EV7 Gelatin SKC 60 300 5 Lab (BSL-2 C t ⁇ 13 filter Sioutas chamber) @3 ⁇ 10 5 TCID 50 SARS-CoV-2 Gelatin SKC 300-1200 1500-9000 5 Hospital Wuhan Not filter Sioutas ICU Detected SARS-CoV-2 Gelatin SKC 1200 10800 5-9 Hospital Wuhan 19 copies/m 3 filter Sioutas Toilet SARS-CoV-2 Gelatin SKC 990 ⁇ 8900 5-9 Hospital Wuhan 20 copies/m 3 filter Sioutas Offices IBV from CNT Battery 30 4.8 0.16 Chamber Ct 32.69 vaccine Tesla operated Valve pump
- CNT arrays to the NIOSH cyclone sampler (BC-251, Tisch environmental Inc).
- the CNT arrays have demonstrated a high virus capture efficiency in liquid samples.
- the devices that we constructed and tested in this project were culture independent and we used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis to determine the presence of the targeted pathogen (Chicken infectious Brochities Virus, IBV).
- PCR polymerase chain reaction
- IBV Chicken infectious Brochities Virus
- Bio-aerosols produced by cough or sneeze exhibit a bimodal particle distribution, large droplets (several ⁇ m) and smaller droplets ( ⁇ 1 ⁇ m or less).
- the fine mist will be generated by a high velocity air jet nebulizer for generating droplets less than 1 ⁇ m in diameter.
- the larger droplets (droplets>1 ⁇ m) will be generated by a sprayer connected in series to produce a bimodal particle distribution ( FIG. 10 ).
- the nebulized and sprayed liquids were spiked with Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV) live virus vaccine at a concentration 20 Doses/ml.
- IBV Infectious Bronchitis Virus
- the virus-spiked bio-aerosol was released inside a clean air chamber ⁇ 3 m 3 (1.2 ⁇ 1.2 ⁇ 2 m) under static air conditions as depicted in ( FIG. 11 ).
- the air monitoring collector devices were activated for different periods of time ranging from 30 to 660 minutes.
- the bioaerosol samplers evaluated or developed in this project are: (1) NIOSH BC-251 cyclone sampler (Tisch environmental Inc), used as control or reference; (2) NIOSH BC-251 cyclone sampler with inserted CNT arrays (Hybrid device); (3) Dead-End CNT microfluidic filter; and (4) CNT Tesla Valve microfluidic filter.
- FIG. 13 A-D shows pictures of each of the tested devices.
- FIGS. 14 A and 14 B show the vials used for air sampling displaying clear traces of the collected material (before rinsing with UTM).
- PCR was used to detect the presence IBV.
- Ct threshold cycle
- FIG. 15 shows the two CNT array geometries that were tested.
- FIG. 16 A we show in FIG. 16 A the herringbone geometry that we have used in the past for liquids. When using this geometry we found that nanoparticles get trapped at the sharp corners of the CNT array. This effect diminish the overall capture ability of the array because those sharp tips that are not exposed can capture much less nanoparticles.
- a Tesla valve is a check valve which allows a fluid to flow in one direction (forward) while it opposes larger resistance to the flow in the opposite direction (reverse). This device has no moving parts, however the valve has limited applications because the flow in reverse direction is never zero.
- the ratio between the forward and reverse flows is called diodicity, it strongly depends on the flow speed and normal values are slightly larger than 1.
- the diodicity of a Tesla valve originates from the different paths the fluid follows in forward and reverse directions. In the forward direction the fluid follows a smooth and shorter path while for the reverse direction it follows a longer path where it splits by the fins shown in FIGS. 16 A and 16 C . After being split the fluid direction is reversed by the cavity creating eddy flow regions in well-localized places of the valve.
- a comparison and control experiment where we nebulized fluorescent styrene nanoparticles demonstrated the superior capture ability of the CNT Tesla Valve when compared to the herringbone array (see FIG. 17 ).
- CNT-TV Microfluidic carbon nanotube Tesla valves
- experiments 7, 8 and 10 in Table 3 CNT-TV capture devices showed excellent performance, PCR analysis of these devices resulted in positive capture experiments performed in static air and a suspicious positive when capturing from real conditions in the isolation chamber containing infected chicken (with IBV) and active air filtration running continuously in the room.
- FIG. 18 shows the images of the CNT-TV after one capture experiment that lasted 30 min (Experiment 8, Table 3). After capture, there is optical evidence of trapped aerosol particles in the device ( FIG. 18 A ). Further analysis by SEM reveals the presence of material captured in the CNTs, as depicted in false colored red shown in FIG.
- FIG. 19 displays the figure of merit of the NIOSH air sampler when compared to our carbon nanotube devices considering the sampled air volume vs. PCR threshold cycle of IBV detection. From the plot shown in FIG. 18 we can observe that the CNT Tesla valves are closer to the ideal corner where low Ct values and small air volumes are required. It is also important to notice that the CNT Tesla valve microfluidic achieved a comparable Ct value to the NIOSH sampler while sampling one order of magnitude less air. This result is truly outstanding.
- FIG. 23 shows the captured virus material in the nanotube arrays showing the preferential capture location observed in the air capture experiments.
- SARS-COV-2 can be captured in CNT tesla valves and confined in a small volume. PCR analysis of the CNTs revealed the presence of SARS-COV-2. Recirculating the sample improves the capture of virus in the CNT tesla valve device.
- the novel air sampler is based on a CNT Tesla valve array and can be operated at very low flow rates (e.g., 0.16 L/min), thus making possible to fabricate highly portable battery-operated air sampling systems. In control experiments, these devices showed reproducible detection with consistent Ct values across different capture experiments. These microfluidic CNT devices could be used as portable pathogen exposure meters in airplanes where crew members can carry them while doing regular tasks during the whole flight. This approach shows a clear path to improve aerosol virus collection and detection with variable indoor conditions.
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Biomedical Technology (AREA)
- Molecular Biology (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
- Biochemistry (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Immunology (AREA)
- Pathology (AREA)
- Apparatus Associated With Microorganisms And Enzymes (AREA)
Abstract
Embodiments relate to a fluid monitoring device that may be used to capture viruses or other suitable sized particles. The fluid monitoring device can comprise a base, cover, Tesla valve, and means for pumping a fluid. The base can have a channel wherein the channel has two end points. The cover can have an inlet and an outlet. The cover can be mounted on the base wherein the inlet is adjacent to the first end point and the outlet is adjacent to the second end point. The Tesla valve can be positioned within the channel. The Tesla valve can have a forward flow direction and a reverse flow direction. The means for pumping a fluid is for directing a fluid from the inlet to the outlet and can be configured to the cover.
Description
- This patent application is related to and claims the benefit of priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 63/476,785, filed on Dec. 22, 2022, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- Embodiments relate to a fluid monitoring device and methods of use thereof. More particularly, embodiments relate to a fluid monitoring device that may be used to capture viruses or other suitable sized particles and methods of use thereof.
- The ability of viruses to rapidly and unpredictably mutate can result in epidemics and pandemics. Virus surveillance, particularly the detection of viral particles in fluids, is an essential step in mitigating the next outbreak. Virus detection in fluids, particularly aerosols, has been attempted in the past under a variety of experimental conditions ranging from the laboratory, hospital wards, mass transportation, and airplanes; however, large-scale detection is complicated. Current pathogen identification technologies (e.g., fluid monitoring devices) are limited by poor viral capture efficiency, lack of portability, cost, and slow downstream analysis methods. Accordingly, there is a clear need for a faster, simpler, and cheaper fluid monitoring device that can be widely accessible to the public for use in communal spaces such as offices, mass transport, restaurants, or even at home.
- Embodiments relate to a fluid monitoring device that may be used to capture viruses or other suitable sized particles. The fluid monitoring device can comprise a base, cover, Tesla valve, and means for pumping a fluid. The base can have a channel wherein the channel has two end points. The cover can have an inlet and an outlet. The cover can be mounted on the base wherein the inlet is adjacent to the first end point and the outlet is adjacent to the second end point. The Tesla valve can be positioned within the channel. The Tesla valve can have a forward flow direction and a reverse flow direction. The means for pumping a fluid is for directing a fluid from the inlet to the outlet and can be configured to the cover.
- In some embodiments, at least a portion of the fluid monitoring device can be optically transparent whereby at least a portion of the Tesla valve is visible within the fluid monitoring device.
- In some embodiments, the fluid can be air containing droplets and aerosols.
- In some embodiments, the Tesla valve can be positioned within the channel such that the reverse flow direction is oriented from the inlet to the outlet.
- In some embodiments, the Tesla valve can be positioned within the channel such that the forward flow direction is oriented from the inlet to the outlet.
- In some embodiments, the Tesla valve can be positioned within the channel to allow at least a portion of the fluid to flow through and around the Tesla valve.
- In some embodiments, at least a portion of the Tesla valve can be porous.
- In some embodiments, the length of the Tesla valve can be at least a portion of the length of the channel.
- In some embodiments, the fluid monitoring device can further comprise a second Tesla valve positioned within the channel.
- In some embodiments, the channel can have a path shape, wherein the path shape can be straight, zig-zag, or serpentine.
- In some embodiments, the means for pumping a fluid can be a vacuum pump, the vacuum pump being configured to the outlet of the cover.
- In some embodiments, the device can be contained in a portable housing.
- An exemplary embodiment relates to a method of capturing particles from a fluid sample using a fluid monitoring device. An embodiment of a fluid monitoring device can comprise a base, cover, Tesla valve, and means for pumping a fluid. The base can have a channel wherein the channel has two end points. The cover can have an inlet and an outlet. The cover can be mounted on the base wherein the inlet is adjacent to the first end point and the outlet is adjacent to the second end point. The Tesla valve can be positioned within the channel. The Tesla valve can have a forward flow direction and a reverse flow direction. The means for pumping a fluid is for directing a fluid from the inlet to the outlet and can be configured to the cover. The method can involve actuating the means for pumping a fluid. The method can involve allowing a fluid to enter the inlet of the device and pass through the channel, the fluid containing particles. The method can involve capturing the particles within the Tesla valve. The method can involve allowing the fluid to exit the outlet of the device.
- In some embodiments of the method, the fluid can be air containing droplets and aerosols carrying the particles.
- In some embodiments of the method, the particles can be selected from the group consisting of bacteria, virus, fungal spores, pollen, microalgae, plasmodium, and amoebas.
- In some embodiments of the method, means for pumping a fluid can be a vacuum pump, the vacuum pump being configured to the outlet of the cover and actuating the vacuum pump pulls the fluid into the inlet of the device, through the channel and the Tesla valve, and out the outlet of the device.
- In some embodiments, the method can further comprise analyzing the captured particles.
- In some embodiments of the method, analyzing the captured particles can comprise a technique selected from the group consisting of Raman spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and plasmonics.
- In some embodiments, the method can further comprise releasing the captured particles and analyzing the captured particles.
- In some embodiments of the method, releasing the captured particles can comprises mechanical abrasion of the Tesla valve and analyzing the particles can comprise a technique selected from the group consisting of ELISA, PCR, NGS, and culture.
- In some embodiments, the method can involve recirculating the fluid before to exiting the outlet of the device to increase a number of particles captures within the Tesla valve or a likelihood of capturing the particles within the Tesla valve.
- The above and other objects, aspects, features, advantages, and possible applications of the present innovation will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings. Like reference numbers used in the drawings may identify like components.
-
FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of an embodiment of a fluid monitoring device. -
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a fluid monitoring device. -
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a fluid monitoring device. Theaxis 3× of the cross-sectional view is depicted inFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a fluid monitoring device. Theaxis 3× of the cross-sectional view is depicted inFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a fluid monitoring device. Theaxis 3× of the cross-sectional view is depicted inFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 6 is a scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrograph of a carbon nanotube array fin tip of a Tesla valve showing fluorescent nanoparticles captured from a liquid sample. -
FIG. 7A is a perspective view of an embodiment of a housing. -
FIG. 7B is a perspective view of an embodiment of a housing placed in a user's hand. -
FIG. 8A is a perspective view of an embodiment of a housing and an embodiment of a fluid monitoring device. -
FIG. 8B is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of a fluid monitoring device configured to an embodiment of a housing. A zoomed-in profile of an embodiment of a Tesla valve is shown on the right. -
FIG. 9A is a perspective view of an embodiment of a housing and an embodiment of an optical analyzer. -
FIG. 9B is a perspective view of an embodiment of a housing and an embodiment of a sample extraction unit. -
FIG. 10 —Airborne particle generator using a nebulizer to generate fine particles (<1 μm) connected in series with a sprayer that generates larger droplets (>1 μm), the combined particle emission simulates a realistic cough or human sneeze showing a bimodal particle size distribution. -
FIG. 11 —Schematic showing the virus isolation chamber, the bioaerosol generator, and the air samplers. -
FIG. 12A —Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV) infected chicken inside an isolation room. -
FIG. 12B —Bioaerosol monitors placed near the air exhaust of the isolation room (BSL-2 facility). -
FIG. 13A —The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Bioaerosol Cyclone 251 (NIOSH BC-251) sampler. -
FIG. 13B —View of inserted carbon nanotube arrays in thestage 2 vial of the NIOSH BC-251 air sampler. -
FIG. 13C —View of inserted carbon nanotube arrays in thestage 2 vial of the NIOSH BC-251 air sampler. -
FIG. 13D —An embodiment of a microfluidic carbon nanotube Tesla valve. -
FIG. 14A —15 mlvial form stage 1 of the NIOSH BC-251 air samples showing shed dust from the chickens. -
FIG. 14B —2 ml vial fromstage 2 of the NIOSH BC-251 air sampler, the red arrow points at a diagonal trace of fine powder collected from the chickens. -
FIG. 14C —Stage 2 vial containing inserted carbon nanotube arrays used to evaluate the capture ability of the CNTs. -
FIG. 15 —The CNT array on a petri dish showing the suspended CNTs scratched using a sterile needle, this suspension was pipetted and diluted in 250 μL universal transport media (UTM) and vortexed before PCR. -
FIG. 16A —Carbon nanotube array in Herringbone arrangement. -
FIG. 16B —Carbon nanotube array in Tesla valve arrangement. -
FIG. 16C —Tesla valve geometry where the air can follow two parallel channels. -
FIG. 17A —Fluorescence microscopy images of nanoparticles captured by the carbon nanotube Tesla Valve.FIGS. 17A and 17B are the same area and the carbon nanotubes are of comparable length around 60 μm. -
FIG. 17B —Fluorescence microscopy images of nanoparticles captured by the Herringbone carbon nanotube array.FIGS. 17A and 17B are the same area and the carbon nanotubes are of comparable length around 60 μm. -
FIG. 18A —Photograph of a carbon nanotube Tesla valve after IBV spiked aerosol capture, white flow lines and noticeable particles get trapped in the Tesla Valve region (inset). -
FIG. 18B —After removing the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) cap the device got a few nanometer gold coating to prevent charge accumulation during electron irradiation in the SEM microscope, the evidence of aerosol captured virus material is highlighted in red. -
FIG. 19 —Semilog plot of the PCR Ct threshold cycle of detection versus the sampled air volume. The red stars represent experiments with live virus shed by chickens in an isolation room while the blue stars are from controlled experiments with nebulized inactivated IBV virus in a static air chamber. PCR results can classified in three regions Ct below 35 represents a positive PCR detection (green), positive suspicious between 35 and 40 (gray) and No detection (red) for Ct larger than 40. The plot also indicates the ideal corner with low Ct and small sampled air volume. -
FIG. 20 —SEM micrograph of a CNT array fin tip of a Tesla valve showing fluorescent nanoparticles captured from an aerosol sample. -
FIG. 21 is a unit cell of a Tesla valve. Win is the width of the Tesla valve channel at the entrance; Wout is the width of the Tesla valve channel at the output; La, Lb, and Lc define the shape of the tesla valve; and a is the angle of the fin (0 and 90°). -
FIG. 22 shows the forward and reverse direction of flow in a unit cell of a Tesla valve. HW is the height of the walls, and HF is the height of the fin. In some embodiments, HW is the same or approximately the same as HF. -
FIG. 23 shows SEM micrographs of CNT tesla valve used to enrich SARS-COV-2 in from a 1:1×106 dilution. In frame (c) It is possible to notice corpuscles that resemble trapped virus material. PCR analysis of this material confirms the capture of SARS-COV-2 in the nanotube arrays, while the SEM shows the preferential sites where the virus is retained at the tips of the tesla valve fins, in an analogous way as that observed in the air monitoring experiments. - The following description is of exemplary embodiments that are presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of describing the general principles and features of various aspects of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is not limited by this description.
- As shown in
FIG. 1 , thefluid monitoring device 100 can comprise a base 102,cover 108,Tesla valve 114, and means for pumping afluid 124. A base 102 can have achannel 104 wherein thechannel 104 can have twoend points 106. Acover 108 can have aninlet 110 andoutlet 112. Acover 108 can be mounted on abase 102. Afirst end point 106 of achannel 104 can be adjacent to aninlet 110, and asecond end point 106 can be adjacent to anoutlet 112. It is contemplated that an assembledfluid monitoring device 100 creates aclosed channel 104 with two openings at aninlet 110 andoutlet 112. As shown inFIG. 2 , when acover 108 is mounted on abase 102, the edges of thecover 108 andbase 102 can be contiguous such that the assembledfluid monitoring device 100 forms a uniform shape. An assembledfluid monitoring device 100 can be any shape (e.g., circular, triangular, rectangular, etc.). In some embodiments, acover 108 can be removable. Abase 102 and cover 108 of afluid monitoring device 100 can be made of any suitable material (e.g., plastics, metals, glass, polymers, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), quartz etc.). In some embodiments, at least a portion of thebase 102 and/or cover 108 is optically transparent such that at least a portion of aTesla valve 114 within adevice 100 is visible for optical analysis. ATesla valve 114 can be positioned within achannel 104. As shown inFIG. 22 , aTesla valve 114 can have a forward flow direction and a reverse flow direction. The means for pumping a fluid 124 can be for directing a fluid from theinlet 110 to theoutlet 112 and can be configured to thecover 108. Afluid monitoring device 100 can be a cartridge and/or microfluidic device. Afluid monitoring device 100 can also be sterile. - A
fluid monitoring device 100 can have any number ofchannels 104. In some embodiments, there are a plurality ofchannels 104 with oneend point 106 of eachchannel 104 merging at theinlet 110 and theother end point 106 of eachchannel 104 merging at theoutlet 112. Alternatively, oneend point 106 of eachchannel 104 can merge into asingular channel 104 where theend point 106 of thesingle channel 104 aligns with aninlet 110 oroutlet 112. Achannel 104 might be branched at one end or both. It is contemplated that, in such embodiments, acover 108 can have a plurality ofinlets 110 and/oroutlets 112 which align with thevarious end points 106 of thechannel 104. For example, achannel 104 might be Y-shaped where thecover 108 has twoinlets 110 and asingle outlet 112. The twoinlets 110 can be aligned with the branched end points 106 (e.g., at the top of the “Y”) and theoutlet 112 can be aligned with the remainingend point 106. As shown inFIG. 1 , the path of achannel 104 can have any shape (e.g., straight, zig-zag, or serpentine, etc.). As shown inFIGS. 1 and 3 ,channel 104 can have any length L1, depth D1, and width W1. The length L1, depth D1, and width W1 can be on the order of micrometers to meters. In some embodiments, the depth D1 and/or width W1 of achannel 104 can be about constant. Alternatively, the depth D1 and/or width W1 of achannel 104 can vary. As shown inFIG. 3 , the cross-sectional shape of achannel 104 can be rectangular. In some embodiments, achannel 104 can have any cross-sectional shape (e.g., square, circular, triangular etc.). - A
fluid monitoring device 100 can have any suitable means for pumping a fluid 124 from theinlet 110 to the outlet 112 (e.g., vacuum, syringe, squeeze bulb, etc.). A means 124 can be configured to theinlet 110 oroutlet 112 of thecover 108. As shown inFIG. 2 , afluid monitoring device 100 can be configured to avacuum pump 124. Avacuum pump 124 can be connected to anoutlet 112 of thecover 108 such that thevacuum pump 124 pulls fluid into thedevice 100, through achannel 104 and aTesla valve 114, and out theoutlet 112. In some embodiments, avacuum pump 124 can be connected to anoutlet 110 of ahousing 128 and achieve the same effect. Thevacuum pump 124 can be battery-operated or powered by an AC/DC adaptor. Thevacuum pump 124 can be similar to those found in the art. - A
Tesla valve 114 can be similar toconventional Tesla valves 114 found in the art. An exemplary unit cell of aTesla valve 114 is shown inFIG. 21 . The angle α and size of a fin within aTesla valve 114 influences the forward and reverse flow directions. For example, depending on the angle, the cross section changes and can generate more turbulence at higher angle. As shown inFIG. 22 , aTesla valve 114 can allow the fluid to flow in one direction (e.g., forward flow direction) while simultaneously opposing the flow in the opposite direction (e.g., reverse flow direction). As shown inFIGS. 1 and 18A , aTesla valve 114 can be positioned within achannel 104 such that the reverse flow direction is oriented from theinlet 110 to theoutlet 112. In such embodiments, as shown inFIG. 16B , the means for pumping a fluid 124 overpowers the innate forward flow direction and directs the fluid through theTesla valve 114 in the reverse flow direction. Alternatively, aTesla valve 114 can be positioned within achannel 104 such that the forward flow direction is oriented from theinlet 110 to theoutlet 112. It contemplated that the orientation of aTesla valve 114 within achannel 104 can influence the degree ofparticle 116 retention (e.g., enrichment). As shown inFIGS. 6, 18B and 20 , adevice 100 where the reverse flow direction is oriented from theinlet 110 to theoutlet 112,particle 116 enrichment increases, particularly atfin tips 140 and sharp corners of aTesla valve 114. ATesla valve 114 can be positioned within achannel 104 to allow at least a portion of a fluid to flow through theTesla valve 114 in one direction from theinlet 110 to theoutlet 112. As shown inFIG. 4 , aTesla valve 114 can be positioned within achannel 104 such that at least a portion of the fluid entering thedevice 100 passes through and around theTesla valve 114 to exit thedevice 100. In some embodiments, the entire fluid entering thedevice 100 passes through theTesla valve 114 to exit thedevice 100. ATesla valve 114 can work under a low flow rate of fluid (e.g., 0.16-0.3 L/m). - A
fluid monitoring device 100 can have a plurality ofTesla valves 114. In some embodiments, eachchannel 104 can have at least oneTesla valve 114. As shown inFIG. 18A , asingle channel 104 can have a plurality ofTesla valves 114. A plurality ofTesla valves 114 can be positioned lengthwise along onechannel 104. Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 18A , a plurality ofTesla valves 114 can positioned adjacent and crosswise within onechannel 104. As shown inFIG. 1 , aTesla valve 114 can have any length L2. The length L2 can be on the order of micrometers to meters. The length L2 of aTesla valve 114 can be at least a portion of the length L1 of achannel 104. In some embodiments, the length L2 of aTesla valve 114 is the same as the length L1 of achannel 104. The shape of aTesla valve 114 can complement the path shape of a channel 104 (e.g., straight, zig-zag, or serpentine, etc.). ATesla valve 114 can be removable. - As shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4 , aTesla valve 114 can have any depth D2 and/or outer width W2. The depth D2 and/or outer width W2 can be on the order of micrometers to meters. In some embodiments, the depth D2 and/or outer width W2 of aTesla valve 114 can be about constant. Alternatively, the depth D2 and/or outer width W2 of aTesla valve 114 can vary. As shown inFIG. 3 , the depth D2 and/or outer width W2 of aTesla valve 114 can complement the depth D1 and/or width W1 of achannel 104 such that theTesla valve 114 fits tightly within thechannel 104. As shown inFIG. 3 , aTesla valve 114 can have any inner width W3. The inner width W3 can be on the order of micrometers to meters. In some embodiments, the inner width W3 of aTesla valve 114 can vary. It is contemplated that the inner width W3 of aTesla valve 114 can be adjusted based on the fluid passing through theTesla valve 114. For example, the fluid can be air containing droplets and aerosols. Approximately, droplets are greater than 100 μm, and aerosols are less than 100 μm. A larger inner width W3 can capture larger droplets from air and vice versa. - A
Tesla valve 114 can be made from any material (e.g., nanotubes, aerogels, nanowires, sponges, foams, etc.). The material of theTesla valve 114 can be composed of any substance (e.g., silica, carbon, carbon nanotubes, cellulose, gelatin, agar, pectin, resorcinol-formaldehyde, phenol-formaldehyde, polyacrylates, polystyrenes, polyurethanes, epoxies, metal oxides, etc.). The materials can be shaped into theTesla valve 114 using established methods in the art, for example casting a particular substance into a mold. As shown inFIGS. 3-6 , in some embodiments, at least a portion of aTesla valve 114 can be porous 122. In some embodiments, at least a portion of aTesla valve 114 can have a porosity of 1-99%. For example, at least a portion of aTesla valve 114 can have a porosity of about 90%. It can be appreciated that the porosity can be adjusted to fit the diameter of aparticle 116 being captured (e.g., larger percent porosity for larger particles 116). The diameter of theparticles 116 can be on the order of nanometers to millimeters. - As shown in
FIGS. 3, 6, and 18B , aTesla valve 114 can be made fromcarbon nanotubes 118. A carbon nanotube-basedTesla valve 114 can be prepared using bottom-up synthesis. With thecover 108 removed, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4 , asubstrate 120 is positioned within achannel 104 of thebase 102. Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 5 , thesubstrate 120 can be positioned on the underside of thecover 108 wherein thesubstrate 120 would align with at least a portion of achannel 104 when thefluid monitoring device 100 is assembled. Asubstrate 120 can be any type (e.g., silicon, glass, metals, polymers, etc.). A substrate can be foldable and flexible. Using e-beam evaporation and lift-off process, a metal catalyst can be prepared on asubstrate 120. A metal catalyst can be any type (e.g., iron-, nickel-, cobalt-, etc.).Carbon nanotubes 118 can be grown vertically from a metal catalyst through aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition. As shown inFIG. 3-5 , in some embodiments, at least a portion of thecarbon nanotubes 118 are vertically aligned. To create theTesla valve 114 shape, the metal catalyst can be patterned using lithography. Alternatively, laser etching of can be used to pattern thecarbon nanotube 118 structure. In some embodiments, the carbon nanotube-basedTesla valve 114 is synthesized separately from thecover 108 orbase 102 and configured to thechannel 104 after synthesis. In addition, or in the alternative, theTesla vale 114 can be formed via additive or subtractive shaping of carbon forest or sponges. It can be appreciated that other methods known in the art can be used to synthesizecarbon nanotubes 118. - The length of time for aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition can vary and thus dictate the height of the
carbon nanotubes 118. Increasing the time of aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition can generally increase the height of thecarbon nanotubes 118 synthesized. It can be appreciated that the height of thecarbon nanotubes 118 can dictate the depth D2 of theTesla valve 114. As shown inFIGS. 4 and 5 , the height of thecarbon nanotubes 118 can be at least a portion of the depth D1 of thechannel 104. Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 3 , the height of thecarbon nanotubes 118 can be approximately the same as or greater than the depth D1 of thechannel 104. In such embodiments, at least a portion of the ends of the carbon nanotubes 118 (e.g., ends opposite to that of the substrate 120) can make contact with thecover 108 orbase 102. It is contemplated that contact of the base 102 or cover 108 with the ends of thecarbon nanotubes 118 creates at least a partial seal such that at least a portion of a fluid flowing through achannel 104 is directed through theTesla valve 114. It can be appreciated that some embodiments of thefluid monitoring device 100 may comprise a plurality ofcarbon nanotubes 118 types with varying heights. - The
carbon nanotubes 118 can be single-walled or multi-walled. It can be appreciated that some embodiments of thefluid monitoring device 100 may comprise a plurality of carbon nanotube types being single-walled and multi-walled. Thecarbon nanotubes 118 can have any molecular structure (e.g., chirality) and include, but are not limited to, zigzag, armchair, and chiral. Thecarbon nanotubes 118 can also be chemically modified with atoms or molecules (e.g., doped). The chemical modifications can be any type and include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) endohedral doping; (2) exohedral doping or intercalation; and (3) inplane doping or substitution. For example, thecarbon nanotubes 118 can be nitrogen-, boron-, silicon-, aluminum-, phosphorous-, and lithium-doped. Any suitable method known in the art can be used to dope thecarbon nanotubes 118. It is contemplated that the doping type can be selected such that the capturedparticle 116 is preserved for future analysis. It can be appreciated that some embodiments of thefluid monitoring device 100 may comprise a plurality ofcarbon nanotubes 118 types with varying doping modifications and chirality. - As shown in
FIGS. 8A and 8B , thefluid monitoring device 100 can be configured to ahousing 128. Ahousing 128 can have aninlet 130 andoutlet 132. When afluid monitoring device 100 is placed within ahousing 128, theinlet 130 andoutlet 132 of thehousing 128 are adjacent to theinlet 110 anoutlet 112 of thecover 108, respectively. It can be appreciated that when a fluid enters thedevice 100 through theinlet 130 of thehousing 128, at least a portion of the fluid enters theinlet 110 of thecover 108 and into achannel 104. Similarly, when the fluid exits theoutlet 112 of thecover 108, at least a portion of the fluid exits theoutlet 132 of thehousing 128. Ahousing 128 can have any number ofinlets 130 andoutlets 132. The number ofinlets 130 andoutlets 132 of ahousing 128 can correspond to the number ofinlets 110 andoutlets 112 of acover 108. - A
housing 128 can be made of any material (e.g., plastics, metals, glass, polymers, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), etc.). As shown inFIG. 2 , in some embodiments, afilter 126 can be positioned adjacent to theinlet 110 of ahousing 128 and/or theinlet 110 of acover 108 such that at least a portion of a fluid can pass through the filter(s) 126 to enter thechannel 104. The porosity of the filter(s) 126 can be adjusted for the diameter of theparticle 116 to be captured within the filter(s) 126. - As shown in
FIG. 8A , afluid monitoring device 100 configured to ahousing 128 can be removable and replaceable. As shown inFIG. 7B , it is contemplated that an assembledhousing 128 andfluid monitoring device 100 can be light-weight and portable (e.g., <200 g). It is contemplated that ahousing 128 can have an ergonomic shape to allow thehousing 128 to fit comfortably within a user's hand or hands. Ahousing 128 can be wearable for ease of portability. For example, ahousing 128 can be fastened to a shirt, bag, belt, pants, wrist, etc. using any suitable method (e.g., hook and loop fasteners, straps, buttons, magnets, adhesives, wrist bands, etc.). - An exemplary embodiment relates to a method of capturing
particles 116 from a fluid sample using an embodiment of afluid monitoring device 100. The embodiment of thefluid monitoring device 100 can comprise a base 102,cover 108,Tesla valve 114, and means for pumping afluid 124. The base 102 can have achannel 104 wherein thechannel 104 has twoend points 106. Thecover 108 can have aninlet 110 and anoutlet 112. Thecover 108 can be mounted on the base 102 wherein theinlet 110 is adjacent to thefirst end point 106 and theoutlet 112 is adjacent to thesecond end point 106. TheTesla valve 114 can be positioned within thechannel 104. TheTesla valve 114 can have a forward flow direction and a reverse flow direction. The means for pumping a fluid 124 is for directing a fluid from theinlet 110 to theoutlet 112 and can be configured to thecover 108. The method can involve actuating the means for pumping afluid 124. Actuating the means for pumping a fluid 124 can involve, but is not limited to, turning on a vacuum pump, pulling or pushing a syringe, or applying pressure to a squeeze bulb. For example, in some embodiments, the means for pumping a fluid 124 is avacuum pump 124, thevacuum pump 124 being configured to theoutlet 112 of thecover 108 and actuating thevacuum pump 124 pulls the fluid into theinlet 110 of thedevice 100, through thechannel 104 and theTesla valve 114, and out theoutlet 112 of thedevice 100. The method can involve allowing the fluid to enter theinlet 110 of thedevice 100 and pass through achannel 104. It can be appreciated that the fluid can containparticles 116. The fluid can be a Newtonian (e.g., water, air, glycerol, etc.) or non-Newtonian fluid (e.g., blood, saliva, mucus, etc.). In some embodiments, the fluid is air containing droplets and aerosols carrying theparticles 116. Theparticles 116 from the fluid can be any type (e.g., bacteria, virus, fungal spores, pollen, microalgae, plasmodium, amoebas etc.). The method can involve capturing theparticles 116 within aTesla valve 114. The capturing mechanism can involve theparticles 116 becoming trapped within theporous material 122 of aTesla valve 114. The method can involve allowing the fluid to exit theoutlet 112 of thedevice 100. It can be appreciated that varying embodiments of thefluid monitoring device 100 can be implemented with the method. For example, thedevice 100 can also be configured to aportable housing 128. - The method can also involve analyzing the captured
particles 116. Thefluid monitoring device 100 can work under a low flow rate of fluid. It is contemplated that thedevice 100 can capture a sufficient concentration ofparticles 116 required for analysis (e.g., particle enrichment). Analyzing the capturedparticles 116 can involve any optical technique known in the art (e.g., Raman spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, plasmonics, etc.). In some embodiments, thefluid monitoring device 100 can be configured to anoptical analyzer 136 corresponding to the selected analysis technique forparticle 116 assessment. As shown inFIG. 18A , in such embodiments, at least a portion of thebase 102 and/or cover 108 is optically transparent so that at least a portion of aTesla valve 114 within thedevice 100 is visible. As shown inFIG. 9A , ahousing 128 containing thedevice 100 can also be configured to anoptical analyzer 136. As shown inFIG. 8B , ahousing 128 can have a transparent portion 134 or aperture 134 for optical analysis of theparticles 116 captured by adevice 100, thedevice 100 being contained within thehousing 128. - The method can also involve releasing and analyzing the captured
particles 116. With thecover 108 removed, theparticles 116 can be released from theTesla valve 114 via mechanical abrasion (e.g., cutting, scraping, scratching, etc.). Alternatively, theparticles 116 can be released from theTesla valve 114 via disruption of the particle 116 (e.g, lysis, etc.). In some embodiments, thefluid monitoring device 100 can be configured to asample extraction unit 138 used to retrieve theparticles 116 from thedevice 100. Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 9B , ahousing 128 containing thedevice 100 can be configured to thesample extraction unit 138. Ahousing 128 can have an aperture 134 for extraction of theparticles 116 captured by adevice 100, thedevice 100 being contained within thehousing 128. Analysis of the capturedparticles 116 can involve any technique known in the art (e.g., enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); polymerase chain reaction (PCR); next-generation sequencing (NGS), and culturing (e.g., inoculation of particles into embryonated egg or cell culture, etc.). - In this project, Virolock Technologies LLC developed and tested a bio-aerosol monitoring device. The devices included a large flow inertia-based collector where the impactor surface was enhanced by nanostructured carbon nanotube arrays. The best performance was achieved by using a micrometric carbon nanotube Tesla valve encapsulated in a microfluidic channel. This device requires low air flow and exhibited the highest particle/virus capture efficiency.
- Virus detection in bio-aerosols has been attempted in the past under a variety of experimental conditions ranging from laboratory-controlled conditions to hospital wards, mass transportation and airplanes. Airborne virus detection has proven complicated. Table 1 shows the experimental conditions used to capture airborne viruses in different settings from well controlled laboratory conditions to ICU units with symptomatic patients. Table 1 was used in the statement of work of this project to display the efforts made towards aerosol virus capture, and for this report we have expanded it to include our experimental data.
-
TABLE 1 A survey of recently reported capture of airborne virus including SAR-CoV-2 in different environmental settings, this updated table includes the result obtained in this project. The last row represents our best performing device, i.e. the carbon nanotube tesla valve. Collection Sampled Capture time Volume Flow Virus method Product (min) (L) (L/min) Site Result MS2 virus Laminar VIVA 5, 10, 15 ≤105 7 Lab Positive flow on @1 × 106 VTM MS2 virus Laminar SKC bio- 5, 10, 15 ≤120 8 Lab Positive flow sampler @3 × 107 Adenovirus Air- SKC 630 3.5 Mass transport ~50% Sampler Aircheck positive ADV, CoV NIOSH SKC 60+ ≥210 3.5 Pig farms Not BC-251 Aircheck Detected PCV2 NIOS SKC 60+ ≥210 3.5 Pig farms 23% BC-251 Aircheck positive Flu A, Flu B NIOS SKC ~600 ~2100 3.5 Airplane Not H5N1 and BC-251 Aircheck transcontinental Detected more Flu A, Flu B NIOS SKC 150 525 3.5 Airplane Not H5N1 and BC-251 Aircheck transcontinental Detected more Adenovirus NIOS SKC 840 3.5 Hospital ~28% BC-251 Aircheck positive Flu A NIOS SKC 840 3.5 Hospital ~3.5% BC-251 Aircheck positive Flu B, Flu C. NIOS SKC 840 3.5 Hospital Not CoV enterovirus BC-251 Aircheck Detected EV7 Gelatin SKC 60 300 5 Lab (BSL-2 Ct~13 filter Sioutas chamber) @3 × 105 TCID50 SARS-CoV-2 Gelatin SKC 300-1200 1500-9000 5 Hospital Wuhan Not filter Sioutas ICU Detected SARS-CoV-2 Gelatin SKC 1200 10800 5-9 Hospital Wuhan 19 copies/m3 filter Sioutas Toilet SARS-CoV-2 Gelatin SKC 990 ~8900 5-9 Hospital Wuhan 20 copies/m3 filter Sioutas Offices IBV from CNT Battery 30 4.8 0.16 Chamber Ct = 32.69 vaccine Tesla operated Valve pump - In this project, we incorporated CNT arrays to the NIOSH cyclone sampler (BC-251, Tisch environmental Inc). The CNT arrays have demonstrated a high virus capture efficiency in liquid samples. The devices that we constructed and tested in this project were culture independent and we used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis to determine the presence of the targeted pathogen (Chicken infectious Brochities Virus, IBV). PCR can indirectly quantify the concentration of the pathogen in aerosol samples; small threshold cycle (Ct) values indicate high amounts of virus genetic material within the sample. However, this number is not related to the ability of the sample or pathogen to propagate an infection.
- To generate a more realistic cough or sneeze aerosol particle distribution, we combined the particle emissions from mists and sprays generators. Bio-aerosols produced by cough or sneeze exhibit a bimodal particle distribution, large droplets (several μm) and smaller droplets (˜1 μm or less). In our system the fine mist will be generated by a high velocity air jet nebulizer for generating droplets less than 1 μm in diameter. Downstream, the larger droplets (droplets>1 μm) will be generated by a sprayer connected in series to produce a bimodal particle distribution (
FIG. 10 ). - The nebulized and sprayed liquids were spiked with Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV) live virus vaccine at a
concentration 20 Doses/ml. The virus-spiked bio-aerosol was released inside a clean air chamber ˜3 m3 (1.2×1.2×2 m) under static air conditions as depicted in (FIG. 11 ). The air monitoring collector devices were activated for different periods of time ranging from 30 to 660 minutes. - It was possible to perform an air monitoring experiment in a realistic situation where nine chickens were confined in a BSL-2 isolation room for a study of virus shedding by a veterinary research group at Penn State University. These chickens were inoculated for research purposes and our involvement was related to air monitoring. The isolation room has approximately 9 cubic meters and keeps a positive pressure and recirculating HEPA filtered air. The aerosol monitors were located ˜30 cm from the exhaust where accumulation of infected animal virus shedding can be easily observed in
FIG. 12 . - The bioaerosol samplers evaluated or developed in this project are: (1) NIOSH BC-251 cyclone sampler (Tisch environmental Inc), used as control or reference; (2) NIOSH BC-251 cyclone sampler with inserted CNT arrays (Hybrid device); (3) Dead-End CNT microfluidic filter; and (4) CNT Tesla Valve microfluidic filter. For clarity,
FIG. 13A-D shows pictures of each of the tested devices. -
TABLE 2 Operation conditions of each air sampler Flow rate Pressure differential Capture Area Air Sampler (L/m) (kPa) (mm2) NIOSH BC-251 5.0 50 9000 NIOSH BC-251 + 5.0 50 3 CNT arrays CNT Tesla Valve 0.16-0.3 7 3 - After the capturing experiments, we used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify and quantify the captured particles in the aerosol sampling devices.
- Retrieval of Virions from Air Monitoring Devices
- Genetic material retrieval from the commercial NIOSH particle traps. The air-sampling device uses conventional centrifuge vials, after the capture period, the device was transferred to a biosafety cabinet and disinfected on the exterior surface with 70% ethanol solution. The centrifugal tubes were filled with 300 μL of universal transport media (Copan UTM-
RT 3 mL) and vortexed to suspend all the material attached to the inner vial surface. Subsequently, the vials were labelled and submitted for PCR analysis.FIGS. 14A and 14B show the vials used for air sampling displaying clear traces of the collected material (before rinsing with UTM). - Genetic material retrieval from the CNT surface impactor. The CNT arrays were inserted in the vial using adhesives. To retrieve these CNTs we detached the CNT arrays and transferred to a sterile petri dish, there we poured 50 μL of UTM and scratched the CNTs to suspend them in the UTM droplet as depicted in
FIG. 15 . We collected the UTM+CNTs using a sterile pipette tip and diluted in 250 μL of UTM in a 1 mL vial and submit it for analysis by a standard PCR. - Genetic material retrieval from the CNT filter. Before attempting the lysis of the captured material, we tried the standard approach of opening the devices and scratching the CNTs and follow a conventional PCR analysis. The positive results obtained in the experiments reported here will enable us to develop and refine a protocol to perform in-situ lysation of the microfluidic air samplers to collect the genetic material without cutting (open) the microfluidic device. The reclaimed lysis liquid must fit with the protocols of the lab carrying out PCR analysis. This task has to be developed further at a future stage of this project.
- We performed SEM to observe and count the virions that were collected by the CNT devices. Similar to past studies, we quantified the virions captured by unit area from the virus-spiked nebulized/sprayed solutions.
- PCR was used to detect the presence IBV. We report the threshold cycle (Ct) value to deduce the capture efficiency of the device (when successfully detected).
- During the development of this project we found that the geometry of the CNTs arrays must be carefully optimized for capturing airborne particles. During this process we found that one specific geometry exhibit advantages over plain forests of aligned CNT arrays.
FIG. 15 shows the two CNT array geometries that were tested. First, we show inFIG. 16A the herringbone geometry that we have used in the past for liquids. When using this geometry we found that nanoparticles get trapped at the sharp corners of the CNT array. This effect diminish the overall capture ability of the array because those sharp tips that are not exposed can capture much less nanoparticles. - Aiming to find a novel geometry that maximizes the interaction of air with the CNTs, we hypothesized that a Tesla valve would be an ideal candidate. In short, a Tesla valve is a check valve which allows a fluid to flow in one direction (forward) while it opposes larger resistance to the flow in the opposite direction (reverse). This device has no moving parts, however the valve has limited applications because the flow in reverse direction is never zero. The ratio between the forward and reverse flows is called diodicity, it strongly depends on the flow speed and normal values are slightly larger than 1.
- The diodicity of a Tesla valve originates from the different paths the fluid follows in forward and reverse directions. In the forward direction the fluid follows a smooth and shorter path while for the reverse direction it follows a longer path where it splits by the fins shown in
FIGS. 16A and 16C . After being split the fluid direction is reversed by the cavity creating eddy flow regions in well-localized places of the valve. A comparison and control experiment where we nebulized fluorescent styrene nanoparticles demonstrated the superior capture ability of the CNT Tesla Valve when compared to the herringbone array (seeFIG. 17 ). - Microfluidic carbon nanotube Tesla valves (CNT-TV) were used for capturing virus spiked aerosol in both static air and in the isolation chamber;
experiments FIG. 18 shows the images of the CNT-TV after one capture experiment that lasted 30 min (Experiment 8, Table 3). After capture, there is optical evidence of trapped aerosol particles in the device (FIG. 18A ). Further analysis by SEM reveals the presence of material captured in the CNTs, as depicted in false colored red shown inFIG. 18B . Furthermore, PCR analysis of the sample exposed under identical conditions confirmed the presence of IBV with a Ct value of 32.69. It is important to notice that these positive results were obtained when sampling 4.8 liters of air, which is two orders of magnitude smaller than the one sampled by the commercial air samplers (e.g., the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Bioaerosol Cyclone 251 (NIOSH BC-251)). - Table 3 shows the results of our capture experiments results.
FIG. 19 displays the figure of merit of the NIOSH air sampler when compared to our carbon nanotube devices considering the sampled air volume vs. PCR threshold cycle of IBV detection. From the plot shown inFIG. 18 we can observe that the CNT Tesla valves are closer to the ideal corner where low Ct values and small air volumes are required. It is also important to notice that the CNT Tesla valve microfluidic achieved a comparable Ct value to the NIOSH sampler while sampling one order of magnitude less air. This result is truly outstanding. -
TABLE 3 The experimental conditions and PCR result obtained in this project. The last row represents our best performing device, i.e., the CNT tesla valve Collection Sampled Result Capture Pumping time Volume Flow Ct Virus method system Stage (min) (L) (L/min) Site value Experiment BBV NIOSH Virolock's 2 2880 14400 5 Isolation 35.97 Exp 1 from BC-251 setup room chicken IBV NIOSH Virolock's 2 2880 14400 5 Isolation 35.91 Exp 1 from BC-251 setup room chicken IBV NIOSH Virolock's 1 2880 14400 5 Isolation 29.08 Exp 1 from BC-251 setup room chicken IBV NIOSH Virolock's 1 2880 14400 5 Isolation 32.97 Exp 10 from BC-251 setup room chicken IBV NIOSH Virolock's 2 2880 14400 5 Isolation Undetected Exp 1 from BC-251 + setup room chicken CNTS IBV CNT Virolock's N/A 2880 864 0.3 Isolation 37.57 Exp 10 from Tesla setup room chicken Valve IBV NIOSH Virolock's 1 660 3300 5 chamber 29.96 Exp 2 from BC-251 setup vaccine IBV NIOSH Virolock's 2 660 3300 5 chamber 23.9 Exp 2 from BC-251 setup vaccine IBV NIOSH Virolock's 1 660 3300 5 Chamber 29.76 Exp 2 from BC-251 + setup vaccine CNTS IBV NIOSH Virolock's 2 660 3300 5 Chamber 33.48 Exp 2 from BC-251 + setup vaccine CNTS IBV NIOSH Virolock's 1 240 1200 5 Chamber 29.76 Exp 7 from BC-251 + setup vaccine CNTS IBV NIOSH Virolock's 2 240 1200 5 Chamber 33.48 Exp 7 from BC-251 + setup vaccine CNTS IBV CNT Battery N/A 45 7.2 0.16 chamber 32.99 Exp 7 from Tesla operated vaccine Valve pump BBV CNT Battery N/A 30 4.8 0.16 chamber 32.69 Exp 8 from Tesla operated vaccine Valve pump -
-
- 1. Omicron BA.4.1 strain MEX-BC29-p2ve6/11.07.22 diluted to 1:100 and 1:1000 in a final volume of 1 mL. Both diluted samples were assessed by QRT-PCR before and after passing through the CNT Tesla Valves.
- 2. The samples were passed through the CNT Tesla Valve two times each.
- 3. After passing the diluted virus samples the PDMS polymer was removed to expose the CNT arrays. The CNTs were collected in 100 μL of
PBS 1× to do RNA extraction using the Zymo™ kit. - 4. The RNA extraction resulted in an eluted in 20 μL nucleotide free water.
- 5. QT PCR was done in a STEP-One System (Applied Biosystems) with the Zybio kit, The volume of the PCR reaction was 20 μL which included 10 μL of the virus sample.
-
-
TABLE 4 PCR results of the capture of SArS-CoV-2 in CNT Tesla Valves. Sample CT Control de reaction (NTC) Undetermined virus stock non diluted 9.07 1.100 input 17.09 1.1000 input 20.28 1.100 @ CNT Tesla 28.17 1.1000 @CNT Tesla 34.20 Extraction Control (EC) Undetermined Positive control of the Kit 27.92 - From the PCR data after passing the diluted SARS-COV-2 samples it is possible to conclude that the CNT Tesla valve will not capture 100% of the virus in one pass. However, the captured virus is concentrated, as the volume where they are captured is extremely small (˜0.1 μL). An estimate of the copies/μL obtained from the CT values according to Brandolini et al, shows that the nanotube array captured of approximately 102 virus copies in a volume of 0.065 μL, resulting in a local enrichment, from literature it is possible to calculate the enrichment at the CNT of approximately 2×.
- Subsequent experiments confirmed that virus capture can be increased by increasing the times the sample passes through the CNT tesla valve. For this experiment diluted virus samples were passed five and ten times through different Tesla valve devices. The results are shown in Table 5, where it is possible to notice that the sample recirculation through the CNT Tesla valve increases the virus retention. The sample recirculated 10 times is detected by PCR while the one recirculated 5 times shows no PCR amplification, these results were confirmed by triplicate experiments.
-
TABLE 5 PCR results of SArS-CoV-2 capture for samples recirculated 5× and 10×. Sample CT Control de reaction (NTC) Undetermined 1:1 × 106 input 32.01 5 times pass @ CNT Tesla Undetermined 10 times pass @ CNT Tesla 39.58 Extraction Control (EC) Undetermined Positive control of the Kit 26.89 - This was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy of SARS-COV-2 virus inactivated after capture in the CNT Tesla Valve.
FIG. 23 shows the captured virus material in the nanotube arrays showing the preferential capture location observed in the air capture experiments. - In summary, SARS-COV-2 can be captured in CNT tesla valves and confined in a small volume. PCR analysis of the CNTs revealed the presence of SARS-COV-2. Recirculating the sample improves the capture of virus in the CNT tesla valve device.
- We developed a novel and efficient air sampler capable of detecting viruses from aerosolized water solutions containing viable (or inactivated) viruses from infected specimens in a BSL-2 isolation room. The novel air sampler is based on a CNT Tesla valve array and can be operated at very low flow rates (e.g., 0.16 L/min), thus making possible to fabricate highly portable battery-operated air sampling systems. In control experiments, these devices showed reproducible detection with consistent Ct values across different capture experiments. These microfluidic CNT devices could be used as portable pathogen exposure meters in airplanes where crew members can carry them while doing regular tasks during the whole flight. This approach shows a clear path to improve aerosol virus collection and detection with variable indoor conditions.
- Results using modified commercial air samplers (NIOSH+CNT) resulted in improved virus concentration and detection from the hybrid devices containing CNT arrays. However, the additional steps required for collecting the sample might not represent competitive advantage to the currently available air samplers. Finally, we found that the geometry of the miniature dead-end filters was not adequate to concentrate viruses (or particles) on the CNTs despite the 500% increase in CNT dimensions; such air sampling device geometry will be discarded in future studies.
- It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications and variations of the described examples and embodiments are possible in light of the above teachings of the disclosure. The disclosed examples and embodiments are presented for purposes of illustration only. Other alternative embodiments may include some or all of the features of the various embodiments disclosed herein. For instance, it is contemplated that a particular feature described, either individually or as part of an embodiment, can be combined with other individually described features or parts of other embodiments. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described herein can therefore be combined to provide further embodiments.
- It is the intent to cover all such modifications and alternative embodiments as may come within the true scope of this invention, which is to be given the full breadth thereof. Additionally, the disclosure of a range of values is a disclosure of every numerical value within that range, including the end points. Thus, while certain exemplary embodiments of the device and methods of making and using the same have been discussed and illustrated herein, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.
- Additional information can be appreciated from the following reference, each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
- Blachere, F. M.; Lindsley, W. G.; Weber, A. M.; Beezhold, D. H.; Thewlis, R. E.; Mead, K. R.; Noti, J. D., Detection of an avian lineage influenza A(H7N2) virus in air and surface samples at a New York City feline quarantine facility. Influenza Other Resp 2018, 12 (5), 613-622.
- Coleman, K. K.; Nguyen, T. T.; Yadana, S.; Hansen-Estruch, C.; Lindsley, W. G.; Gray, G. C., Bioaerosol Sampling for Respiratory Viruses in Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit Network. Sci Rep-Uk 2018, 8.
- Borkenhagen, L. K.; Mallinson, K. A.; Tsao, R. W.; Ha, S. J.; Lim, W. H.; Toh, T. H.; Anderson, B. D.; Fieldhouse, J. K.; Philo, S. E.; Chong, K. S.; Lindsley, W. G.; Ramirez, A.; Lowe, J. F.; Coleman, K. K.; Gray, G. C., Surveillance for respiratory and diarrheal pathogens at the human-pig interface in Sarawak, Malaysia. Plos One 2018, 13 (7).
- Blachere, F. M.; Lindsley, W. G.; Slaven, J. E.; Green, B. J.; Anderson, S. E.; Chen, B. T.; Beezhold, D. H., Bioaerosol sampling for the detection of aerosolized influenza virus. Influenza Other Resp 2007, 1 (3), 113-120.
- Hertzberg, V. S.; Weiss, H.; Elon, L.; Si, W. P.; Norris, S. L.; Team, F. R., Behaviors, movements, and transmission of droplet-mediated respiratory diseases during transcontinental airline flights. P Natl Acad Sci USA 2018, 115 (14), 3623-3627.
- Lindsley, W. G.; Green, B. J.; Blachere, F. M.; Martin, S. B.; Law, B. F.; Jensen, P. A.; Schefer, M. P., Sampling and characterization of bioaerosols. In NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods, 5th ed.; NIOSH, Ed. NIOSH: 2017.
- Pan, M.; Eiguren-Fernandez, A.; Hsieh, H.; Afshar-Mohajer, N.; Hering, S. V.; Lednicky, J.; Fan, Z. H.; Wu, C. Y., Efficient collection of viable virus aerosol through laminar-flow, water-based condensational particle growth. J Appl Microbiol 2016, 120 (3), 805-815.
- Yadana, S.; Coleman, K. K.; Nguyen, T. T.; Hansen-Estruch, C.; Kalimuddin, S.; Thoon, K. C.; Low, J. G. H.; Gray, G. C., Monitoring for airborne respiratory viruses in a general pediatric ward in Singapore. J Public Health Res 2019, 8 (3), 100-103.
- Liu, Y.; Ning, Z.; Chen, Y.; Guo, M.; Liu, Y. L.; Gali, N. K.; Sun, L.; Duan, Y. S.; Cai, J.; Westerdahl, D.; Liu, X. J.; Xu, K.; Ho, K. F.; Kan, H. D.; Fu, Q. Y.; Lan, K., Aerodynamic analysis of SARS-COV-2 in two Wuhan hospitals. Nature 2020, 582 (7813), 557-560.
- Yeh, Y. T.; Tang, Y.; Sebastian, A.; Dasgupta, A.; Perea-Lopez, N.; Albert, I.; Lu, H. G.; Terrones, M.; Zheng, S. Y., Tunable and label-free virus enrichment for ultrasensitive virus detection using carbon nanotube arrays. Sci Adv 2016, 2 (10).
- Martinez, J. F. I.; Perea-Lopez, N.; Rajotte, E.; Terrones, M.; Rosa, C., Ultrasensitive and in-situ detection of a plant virus by a nanotube-filtering device and isothermal amplification. Phytopathology 2019, 109 (10), 133-134.
- Yeh, Y. T.; Gulino, K.; Zhanga, Y. H.; Sabestien, A.; Chou, T. W.; Zhou, B.; Lin, Z.; Albert, I.; Lu, H. G.; Swaminathan, V.; Ghedin, E.; Terrones, M., A rapid and label-free platform for virus capture and identification from clinical samples. P Natl Acad Sci USA 2020, 117 (2), 895-901.
- Nguyen, T. T.; Poh, M. K.; Low, J.; Kalimuddin, S.; Thoon, K. C.; Ng, W. C.; Anderson, B. D.; Gray, G. C., Bioaerosol Sampling in Clinical Settings: A Promising, Noninvasive Approach for Detecting Respiratory Viruses. Open Forum Infect Di 2017, 4 (1).
- Lindsley, W. G.; Reynolds, J. S.; Szalajda, J. V.; Noti, J. D.; Beezhold, D. H., A Cough Aerosol Simulator for the Study of Disease Transmission by Human Cough-Generated Aerosols. Aerosol Sci Tech 2013, 47 (8), 937-944.
- Nazari, A.; Jafari, M.; Rezaei, N.; Taghizadeh-Hesary, F.; Taghizadeh-Hesary, F., Jet fans in the underground car parking areas and virus transmission. Phys Fluids 2021, 33 (1).
- Mathai, V.; Das, A.; Bailey, J. A.; Breuer, K., Airflows inside passenger cars and implications for airborne disease transmission. Sci Adv 2021, 7 (1).
- Verma, A. K.; Bhatnagar, A.; Mitra, D.; Pandit, R., First-passage-time problem for tracers in turbulent flows applied to virus spreading. Phys Rev Res 2020, 2 (3).
- Cox, J.; Mbareche, H.; Lindsley, W. G.; Duchaine, C., Field sampling of indoor bioaerosols. Aerosol Sci Tech 2020, 54 (5), 572-584.
Claims (21)
1. A fluid monitoring device comprising:
a base, the base having a channel wherein the channel has two end points;
a cover, the cover having an inlet and an outlet, the cover being mounted on the base wherein the inlet is adjacent to the first end point and the outlet is adjacent to the second end point;
a Tesla valve positioned within the channel, wherein the Tesla valve has a forward flow direction and a reverse flow direction; and
means for pumping a fluid through the channel from the inlet to the outlet, the means for pumping being configured to the cover.
2. The fluid monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the fluid monitoring device is optically transparent whereby at least a portion of the Tesla valve is visible within the fluid monitoring device.
3. The fluid monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the fluid is air containing droplets and aerosols.
4. The fluid monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the Tesla valve is positioned within the channel such that the reverse flow direction is oriented from the inlet to the outlet.
5. The fluid monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the Tesla valve is positioned within the channel such that the forward flow direction is oriented from the inlet to the outlet.
6. The fluid monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the Tesla valve is positioned within the channel to allow at least a portion of the fluid to flow through and around the Tesla valve.
7. The fluid monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the Tesla valve is porous.
8. The fluid monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the length of the Tesla valve is at least a portion of the length of the channel.
9. The fluid monitoring device of claim 1 , further comprising a second Tesla valve positioned within the channel.
10. The fluid monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the channel has a path shape, wherein the path shape is straight, zig-zag, or serpentine.
11. The fluid monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the means for pumping a fluid is a vacuum pump, the vacuum pump being configured to the outlet of the cover.
12. The fluid monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the device is contained in a portable housing.
13. A method of capturing particles from a fluid sample using a fluid monitoring device, the fluid monitoring device comprising: a base, the base having a channel wherein the channel has two end points; a cover, the cover having an inlet and an outlet, the cover being mounted on the base wherein the inlet is adjacent to the first end point and the outlet is adjacent to the second end point; a Tesla valve positioned within the channel, wherein the Tesla valve has a forward flow direction and a reverse flow direction; and means for pumping a fluid through the channel from the inlet to the outlet, the means for pumping configured to the cover; the method comprising:
actuating the means for pumping a fluid;
allowing a fluid to enter the inlet of the device and pass through the channel, the fluid containing particles;
capturing the particles within the Tesla valve; and
allowing the fluid to exit the outlet of the device.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the fluid is air containing droplets and aerosols carrying the particles.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the particles are selected from the group consisting of bacteria, virus, fungal spores, pollen, microalgae, plasmodium, and amoebas.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the means for pumping a fluid is a vacuum pump, the vacuum pump being configured to the outlet of the cover and actuating the vacuum pump pulls the fluid into the inlet of the device, through the channel and the Tesla valve, and out the outlet of the device.
17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising analyzing the captured particles.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein analyzing the captured particles comprises a technique selected from the group consisting of Raman spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and plasmonics.
19. The method of claim 13 , further comprising releasing the captured particles and analyzing the captured particles.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein releasing the captured particles comprises mechanical abrasion of the Tesla valve and analyzing the particles comprises a technique selected from the group consisting of ELISA, PCR, NGS, and culture.
21. The method of claim 13 , further comprising recirculating the fluid before to exiting the outlet of the device to increase a number of particles captures within the Tesla valve or a likelihood of capturing the particles within the Tesla valve.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US18/392,506 US20240210285A1 (en) | 2022-12-22 | 2023-12-21 | Fluid monitoring device and methods of use thereof |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US202263476785P | 2022-12-22 | 2022-12-22 | |
US18/392,506 US20240210285A1 (en) | 2022-12-22 | 2023-12-21 | Fluid monitoring device and methods of use thereof |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20240210285A1 true US20240210285A1 (en) | 2024-06-27 |
Family
ID=91584336
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US18/392,506 Pending US20240210285A1 (en) | 2022-12-22 | 2023-12-21 | Fluid monitoring device and methods of use thereof |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20240210285A1 (en) |
-
2023
- 2023-12-21 US US18/392,506 patent/US20240210285A1/en active Pending
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
Pan et al. | Collection, particle sizing and detection of airborne viruses | |
Mainelis | Bioaerosol sampling: Classical approaches, advances, and perspectives | |
Li et al. | Comparing the performance of 3 bioaerosol samplers for influenza virus | |
Hogan Jr et al. | Sampling methodologies and dosage assessment techniques for submicrometre and ultrafine virus aerosol particles | |
Kumar et al. | An overview of methods of fine and ultrafine particle collection for physicochemical characterisation and toxicity assessments | |
Pan et al. | Efficient collection of viable virus aerosol through laminar‐flow, water‐based condensational particle growth | |
US10080857B2 (en) | System for breath sample collection and analysis | |
WO2017176970A1 (en) | Bioaerosol detection systems and methods of use | |
Foat et al. | A prototype personal aerosol sampler based on electrostatic precipitation and electrowetting-on-dielectric actuation of droplets | |
Hong et al. | Gentle sampling of submicrometer airborne virus particles using a personal electrostatic particle concentrator | |
WO2013123500A1 (en) | Improved fiber sampler for recovery of bioaerosols and particles | |
US7201879B2 (en) | Aerosol into liquid collector for depositing particles from a large volume of gas into a small volume of liquid | |
WO2022033394A1 (en) | Automatic detection system and method for pathogens in exhalation | |
WO2009026130A2 (en) | High-efficiency viable sampler for ultrafine bioaerosols | |
Reponen | Sampling for microbial determinations | |
Krokhine et al. | Conventional and microfluidic methods for airborne virus isolation and detection | |
Whitby et al. | Compendium of analytical methods for sampling, characterization and quantification of bioaerosols | |
Su et al. | Evaluation of physical sampling efficiency for cyclone-based personal bioaerosol samplers in moving air environments | |
US20240210285A1 (en) | Fluid monitoring device and methods of use thereof | |
Lee et al. | Miniaturizing wet scrubbers for aerosolized droplet capture | |
Wubulihairen et al. | Development and laboratory evaluation of a compact swirling aerosol sampler (SAS) for collection of atmospheric bioaerosols | |
ITMI981659A1 (en) | SAMPLING EQUIPMENT FOR AIR-DISPERSED PARTICLES | |
Morozov et al. | Non-invasive lung disease diagnostics from exhaled microdroplets of lung fluid: perspectives and technical challenges | |
Chang et al. | Mechanisms, techniques and devices of airborne virus detection: a review | |
Tolchinsky et al. | Development of a personal bioaerosol sampler based on a conical cyclone with recirculating liquid film |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STPP | Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general |
Free format text: DOCKETED NEW CASE - READY FOR EXAMINATION |